Cigarette dispensing and lighting device



March 29, 1960 c. GLENN 2,930,506

CIGARETTE DISPENSING AND LIGHTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2 6, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 29, 1960 c. GLENN CIGARETTE DISPENSING AND LIGHTING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1958 INVENTOR. h/fihzz ATTDRN EYE March 29, 1960 c. GLENN 2,930,506

' CIGARETTE DISPENSING AND LIGHTING mzvzca Filed Feb. 26, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v ii z; 5 2;

u lmllllm ATTD RN EYS United States Fatent CIGARETTE DISPENSING AND LIGHTING DEVICE Carl Glenn, Dayton, Ohio Application February 26, 1958, Serial No. 717,636

1 Claim. (Cl. 221-145) '1 his invention relates to a device for automatically dispensing and lightening cigarettes.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which can be conveniently mounted in a vehicle such as an automobile, whereby persons in the vehicle can readily actuate a button by finger pressure so that a cigarette will be dispensed and wherein the cigarette will be automatically lit.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette handling device which includes a means for holding a plurality of cigarettes and wherein when the device is manually actuated, an electric motor is energized which causes heat from a furnace or heating element to be directed towards the end of a cigarette whichhas been dispensed, so that a person will be able to conveniently pick up the cigarette and smoke the same without the necessity of using a separate cigarette lighter, match or the like. A still further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette dispensing and lighting device wherein the cigarettes which are being handled may be carried in a case which can be conveniently carried in a persons pocket until the person enters a vehicle, at which time the case can be readily mounted in the device so that when the device of the present invention is actuated, one of the cigarettes from the case will be dispensed and automatically ignited.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette dispensing and lighting device which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

' In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the cigarette dispensing and lighting device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device, with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of th device, with parts broken away and in section.

V QFigure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on-the line 77 of ,Figure 6. i I

' Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of zontally disposed base 11. The device of the present invention may be mounted in a vehicle such as an automobile whereby occupants of the vehicle can readily dispense a cigarette such as the cigarettes 14 and wherein the cigarette 14 will be automatically ignited or lit so that the person will not have to use a match, cigarette lighter or the like.

Supported on the base 11 is a conventional heater or furnace 12 which is provided with an aperture or opening 13 adjacent one end thereof so that as later described in this application, heat from the furnace 12 can pass through the aperture 13 and ignite a cigarette 14 which has been placed adjacent thereto by the dispensing mechal'llSIIl.

Supported on the base 11 is a conventional blower or fan 15, and a conduit 16 leads from the blower .15 to an end of the heater 12. Thus, when the blower 15 is energized or actuated, air from the blower will pass through the conduit 16 and this air will cause the heat from the member 12 to pass through the aperture 13 and ignite the cigarette 14.

Extending upwardly from the base 11 and secured thereto is a substantially U-shaped bracket 17 which may be secured in place by suitable securing elements such as the screws 18. The numeral 19 indicates a motor which is mounted in the bracket 17, and the motor 19 serves to rotate a shaft 20 which is connected to the blower 15.

Mounted on the upper portion of the motor 19 and operated thereby is a gear reduction unit 21, Figure 3. The numeral 22 indicates a vertically disposed panel which extends upwardly from the base 11 and is secured thereto, and arranged adjacent the rear surface of the panel 22 and supported thereby is an L-shaped support piece which is indicated by the numeral 23. The support piece 23 includes a horizontally disposed portion 24 and a vertically disposed leg 25. A drive shaft 26 is rotated by the gear reduction unit 21, and a driven shaft 27 is supported by the leg 25. As shown in the drawings, a gear train is provided for causing rotation of the shaft 27 as the shaft 26 rotates, and this gear train comprises a first gear 28 which is mounted on the shaft 26, and the gear 28 meshes with a gear section 30 on a second gear 29. The gear 29 further includes a smaller gear section 31 which meshes with a gear 33 which is mounted on the driven shaft 27. Also mounted on the driven shaft 27 is a cam which is indicated generally by the numeral 34, Figure 8, and the cam 34 includes a recess 35 and a flat surface 36 that defines a shoulder 37.

Secured to the rear surface of the panel 22 is a pair of spaced apart guide members 38, and a plate 39 is slidably mounted between the guide members 38. A finger 40 extends from an end of the plate 39, and the finger 4G is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the top of a strap 41 which is vertically movable or adjustable. A lip 42 extends transversely from an end of the plate 39 as shown in Figure 6. The panel 22 is provided with a vertically disposed slot or cut-out 43, and a bar 44 is mounted for up and down movement in the slot 43. The numeral 45 indicates a pair of guide pieces which are secured to the rear of the panel 22 adjacent the slot 43, and the strap 41 is slidably mounted between the guide pieces 45. As shown in Figure 4, the strap 41 may be secured to the bar 44 by securing elements 46.

The numeral 47 indicates an L-shaped finger piece which is secured to the upper portion of the strap 45 by securing elements 48, and the finger piece 47 may be provided with a knurled section 49 which facilitates the manual manipulation thereof.

The numeral 50 indicates an arm or supporting device which is secured to the upper rear end of the guide 3 is connected to the arm 50. A second coil spring 54 has its upper end connected to an extension 56 on the arm 50, while the lower end of the spring 54 is connected to an extension 55 which is carried by the lower portion of the strap 41. A pin 52 extends outwardly from the lower-end of the strap 41, .and the pin 52 has a spacer member .53 thereon. A lug 57 is arranged on the lower portion of the strap 41, and the lug 57 is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with a movable member 58 which forms part of a conventional electric switch 59. The wiring diagram which is used with the present invention is illustrated in Figure 10.

As shown in Figure 6, there is provided a keeper 61 which has a tooth 62 which is adapted to engage a recess 60 in the sliding plate 39. The numeral 63 indicates a guide link which has one end pivotally connected to the panel 22 by means of a pin 64, and the other end of the guide link 63 is pivotally connected to the keeper 61 by means of a pivot pin assembly 65. A finger button 66 is connected to the upper portion of the keeper 61 by means of securing elements 67'.

Extending forwardly from the upper portion of the panel 22 and secured thereto by securing elements 68 is a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed wall members 67. The numeral 69 indicates a hollow case which has wall portions 70, 71 and 72, and a closure 73 is hingedly connected to the case by means of a hinge structure 74. The numeral 75 indicates a spring which serves to normally urge the closure 73 into closed position.

Also secured adjacent the front portion of the panel 22 is a pair of stop members 76 which are shaped to define spaces 77 for receiving the closure 73 when the case is in the position shown in Figure 3 whereby the cigarette 14 will be able to move downwardly into position to be ignited. Secured to the front of the panel 22 are spaced apart bearing members 78 which serve to support a rotary shaft member 79 that has a drum or roller 80 thereon. As shown in Figure 4, a toothed rack 81 is secured to or formed integral with the bar 44, and the rack 81 has its teeth meshing with a gear wheel 82 on an end of the shaft member 79.

Positioned adjacent the lower front portion of the panel 22 and connected thereto is a pair of spaced apart bearing blocks 83 which support a rotary rod or shaft 84. The rod 84 has, a cylindrical sleeve 85 thereon. Extending transversely through the rod 84 is a pin .86 which has a bushing 87 on an end thereof, and the bar 44 is provided with a lower tapered surface 88 that is adapted to selectively engage the bushing 87. A pair of support members 39 are secured to the sleeve 85, and the support members 89 are positioned to receive the cigarette 14 as it drops downwardly and these support members 89 will support the cigarette 14 in such a position that an end thereof will be adjacent the aperture 13 in the furnace or heater 12 whereby with the blower causing air to pass through the heater, and with the heater coil electrically energized, the cigarette will be properly lit or ignited. Then, the user can readily pick up the lit cigarette from the support members 89 and smoke the same in the usual manner.

As shownin Figure 5,, a return spring 90 has one end connected to the pin. 86, while the other end thereof -is anchored, to the base 11. 'Astop member 91. is

secured to the upper: end 'of the panel .22 by. securing elements. 92.

In Figure. there isv illustrated the. wiring, diagram wherein the numeral. 93iindicates a source. of. electrical energy which may be. a vehicle battery, and a fuse 94 may be connected-in the circuit which includesv wires such as the electric wires-95 .and96.

From the foregoing, it is'apparent that therehas been provided a cigarette dispensing andlightingdevice which can bemounted ingany suitable location, as for-example in a vehicle. In use; withv the device10 mounted in. a vehicle in a. convenient. location such as adjacent; the

' 4 dashboard of the vehicle, it will be seen that normally the device is not energized. For example, a person may carry the case 69 in his or her pocket, and such a case 69 may contain a quantity of conventional cigarettes 14. Thus, when a person desires to smoke a cigarette and he is not near the device 10, it is only necessary to open the closure 73 whereby one of the cigarettes can be removed from the case 69 and smoked in the usual manner. However, when a person enters the vehicle, he or she merely removes the case 69 from the pocket of the clothing, and then opens the closure 73 against the tension of the spring 75, and the case 69 is positioned between the pair of wall'members '67 as shown in the drawings. The case 69 is arranged so that its closure 73 is received in the recesses 77 defined by the member 76, so that the closure 73 is held in open position. Then, when a person desires a cigarette, and with the source of electrical energy 93 connected into the circuit as for example as shown in Figure 10, it will be seen that it is only necessary to manually depress the finger piece 47 by engaging the portion 49 of the finger piece 47, whereby the finger piece 47 can be moved downwardly in the slot 43. It is to be noted from Figure 4 for example that the finger piece 47 is secured to the strap 41 by the securing elements 48, and the strap 41 is secured to the bar 44 by securing elements 46. Thus, as the finger piece 47 is moved downwardly by finger pressure thereon, it will be seen that the bar 44 will move downwardly in the slot 43, and at the same time the strap 41 will move downwardly, and as the strap 41 moves downwardly, it carries the lug 57 down into engagement with the movable portion 58 of the switch 59. This serves to close the electrical circuit to the motor 19 and also completes the circuit to the heating element 12.

As the strap 41 moves downwardly a suflicient distance the coil spring 51 will move the plate 39 fromleft to right in Figure 6 for example so that the finger 40 will move above the top of the strap 41 and this will serve to prevent the strap 41 and its associated parts from moving back to their raised position, until a preselected interval of time has elapsed.

As the bar 44 is moved downwardly, it carries the rack 81 downwardly, and since the teeth of the rack 81 mesh with the gear 82, it will be seen that this downward movement of the rack 81 will rotate the gear 82 which in turn will rotate the shaft 79. The roller is mounted on the shaft 79, and this rotation of the roller 80 will frictionally engage the lowermost cigarette 14 as for example as shown in Figure 3, so that the roller 80 will turn in a counter-clockwise direction, Figure 3, whereby the lowermost cigarette 14 will be moved downwardly and deposited in the support members 89 which are connected to the rotary sleeve 85.

At the same time, the keeper 61 will have its tooth 62 engaged in the recess 60 of the plate 39 so that shifting or sliding movement of the plate 39 from right to left in Figure 6 is prevented at this time. The cigarette which is received in the support members 89 is held so that an end thereof is adjacent the hot aperture 13 in the furnace or heater 12, .andthe heater12. is automatically energized when the lug57 moves downwardly and engages the portion 58 of the switch .59. ..Furthermor.e, at the same time the motor 19 is energized which in turn rotates .the shaft 26 to operate the blower 15 .so that air will be forced in the direction of the arrows through the conduit 16 whereby this air will cause heat to pass .out

through the aperture 13 and ignite the end of the cigarette 14.

After a predetermined period of time, it will be seen that with thegearreduction .unit 21 actuated, the shaft 26 will cause rotation of the shaft 27 through the previously, described :gear train. including the: gears 29 and 33,..-and.since.the cam 34 is. mountedon theshaft 2-7,..it will beaseen that the cam 34 will start to rotateas the gssqsoe 53 motor is actuated. When the high point or shoulder 37 of the cam 34 travels around and engages the lip 42 on the end of the plate 3?, it will be seen that the plate 39 will be moved so that for example the plate 39 can be moved from right to left in Figure 6 whereby'the finger 4% will be pulled out of the path of the strap 41. Then, the coil spring 54 will cause the strap 41 and lug 57 and other associated parts to return from the position shown in Figure 4 to a position such as the position shown in Figure 5 whereby the switch 59 will open so that the motor 19 will no longer be actuated, and furthermore, no further electrical energy will be supplied to the heater 12. At this time, the return spring 98 wih be able to swing the pin 86 in a clockwise direction so as to turn the rod 84 which in turn will move the support members 89 from the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 to the solid line position whereby the lit cigarette can be conveniently picked up and smoked in the usual manner.

This cycle of operations is repeated each time a cigarette is desired to be dispensed and smoked.

As previously stated, the numeral 93 may indicate the vehicle battery which supplies electrical energy for operating the device.

There is further provided the button or finger piece 66 which can serve as a reject button or stop button so that in the event that the user desires to stop the sequence of operations, it is only necessary to press down on the button 66 and this will have the effect of freeing the tooth 62 from the recess 60 in the plate 39 whereby the parts can return to normal position.

Whenever desired, the case 69 can be readily detached or removed from the device so that the case with the cigarettes can be conveniently carried in the pocket as desired.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

As previously stated, the case 69 may be carried in a persons pocket, and when the person gets in the car he or she merely places the case in the machine and a suitable spring member may be provided for releasably holding the case in the device. Then, the control button 47 is pushed down and this button will stay down until the cigarette is lit and then the button 47 will come back up and the machine will automatically be cut off, that is the electrical circuit will automatically be interrupted and the cigarette will be released and the lit cigarette will roll out into the rests or support members 89 whereby they can be readily picked up.

The electric motor 19 operates the blower 15 which forces air through the electric furnace 12 and the heat will come out through the small opening 13 and light the end of the cigarette. The reduction gear unit 21 serves to cause the gear train to operate at the desired or necessary speed for turning the various parts. The cam 34 controls the timing of the device, and the switch 59 is of the type that automatically opens when the lug 57 moves up out of engagement with the member 58. The roller 80 serves to roll the cigarettes one at a time into the zone or area adjacent to the opening 13, and this is accomplished by friction between the roller 80 and the cigarette. The device can be made to have a full automatic operation or semi-automatic operation. The blower 15 may be of the disc type, and the heater 12 may be of conventional construction.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim: I

In a cigarette dispensing and lighting device, a horizontally disposed base, an electric heater self supported on said base and provided with an aperture adjacent'one end thereof, a blower supported on said base, a conduit connecting said blower to said heater, a bracket extending upwardly from said base and secured thereto, a motor supported within said bracket, a shaft extending between said motor and blower, a gear reduction unit on the upper portion of said motor and driven by said motor, a vertically disposed panel extending upwardly from said base and secured thereto, an L-shaped support piece including a horizontally disposed portion secured to said panel, said support piece further including a vertically disposed leg, a drive shaft extending from said gear reduction unit, a driven shaft extending from said leg, gear means connecting said drive shaft to said driven shaft, a cam on said driven shaft provided with a shoulder, guide members secured to the rear of said panel, a plate slidably mounted between said guide members and having a finger thereon, a lip on one end of said plate for engagement by said cam, there being a cut-out in said panel, a vertically shiftable bar adjustably mounted in said cut-out, a pair of guide pieces secured to the rear surface of said panel, a strap slidably mounted between 7 said guide pieces and secured to said bar, said finger being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the top of said strap, an L-shaped finger piece secured to said strap, an arm extending between the upper ends of said guide pieces and secured thereto, a first coil spring having one end connected to said lip and its other end connected to said arm, a pin carried by the lower end of said strap, a second coil spring having its upper end connected to said arm and its lower end connected to said pin, a lug on the lower end of said strap, a switch mounted on said base and adapted to be engaged by said lug, wires connecting said switch to said heater and to said motor, there being a recess in the upper portion of said plate, a keeper provided with a tooth adapted to engage said recess, a guide link connected to said keeper, a finger button connected to said keeper, a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed wall members secured to the upper. front portion of said panel, a cigarette holding case releasably mounted between said wall members and said case including a hingedly mounted spring pressed closure, stop members secured to said panel and defining recesses for receiving said case closure to selectively hold the closure in open position, a pair of opposed bearing members secured to said panel, a shaft member journaled between said bearing members and having a roller thereon, a toothed rack secured to said bar, a gear wheel on said shaft member meshing with said rack, bearing blocks secured to the lower front portion of said panel, a rod rotatably supported by said blocks, a cylindrical sleeve on said rod, a pin extending from said rod and having a bushing thereon for engagement by the lower portion of said bar, a return spring extending between said last named pin and said base, and a pair of support members secured to said sleeve for holding a cigarette therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,987 Pengilly June 26, 1928 2,028,787 Lane Ian. 28, 1936 2,232,125 McChristian Feb. 18, 1941 

